Elections

Across the state, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer is working on his campaign to become Kentucky’s next governor, and he has recruited 2014 Shelby County High School graduate Matthew Smith to aid in his campaign here in Shelby County.

Along with a handful of others across the state, Smith was selected to serve as a Youth Chair for Comer’s campaign in Shelby County.

“I know Matt through his leadership in the Republican Party. He represents the future of our state and is an asset to the Shelby County community,” Comer said.

After spending months driving through a gauntlet of campaign signs that seemed to stretch from one end of the county to the other, residents can finally reclaim their picturesque views of the rolling hills and horse farms.

This week as holiday décor goes up for Celebration of Lights, the political signs are coming down.

But where do they go? Are they quickly trucked to the Waddy Convenience Center or left to litter our lawns?

The more things change, the more they stay same with the Shelbyville City Council. All six incumbents on the council will return after taking the top six spots in a nine-person election Tuesday.

Republican Jon Swindler, who has served on the council for eight non-consecutive years, received the most votes with 12.58 percent while Republican Bobby Andriot was elected just two votes behind at 12.57 percent. Rounding out the votes were Republican Frank Page, 11.2 percent, and Democrats Donna Eaton, 12 percent, Shane Suttor, 11.2 percent, and Mike Zoeller, 10.7 percent.

Thomas Massie, a Tea Party-backed Republican who was active along and against party lines during his first term in Congress, is running for a second term as U.S. representative in Kentucky’s 4th District, which includes Shelby County.

Massie, who took over the district in 2012 when Republican Geoff Davis abruptly resigned, defeated six Republicans in the primary and routed Democrat Bill Adkins by 27 points in the General Election.

Peter Newberry is running as a Democrat for Congress in Northern Kentucky, but his platform doesn’t sound like the average Democrat’s.

The Newport coffee shop owner, lawyer, and farmer says he’s a fiscal conservative who hates government regulations and thinks there are too many laws.

“A lot of the things the tea party stands for, I believe in also,” Newberry said. “Some of the tea party people that get elected to office become like the people they vow to replace and change. Once in power, they stay in power.”

A Louisville attorney is challenging an incumbent district judge for the Division II seat in the judicial race.

Emily Farrar-Crockett, an attorney with the law firm, McClain DeWees in Louisville, lives in Finchville with her husband and their two children.

Farrar-Crockett is a member of the criminal and defense bar and is experienced in immigration and juvenile law and has practiced in numerous district, circuit and family courts, the Kentucky Supreme Court and in federal courts throughout the nation.

A newcomer to the political arena is running for an open magisterial seat in District 3 being vacated by longtime Magistrate Allen Ruble, who announced last year that he would not be seeking a 4th term.

Matt Samples, 30, a Democrat, is estimator and job manager at Penrod Lumber and Fence Company. He is also head football coach at East Middle School.